Tuesday 27 / October / 2026
Muscat— The proceedings of the "Muscat Maritime Resilience Forum 2026" began in Muscat today to review challenges facing the maritime sector and practical experiences, as well as to explore opportunities to enhance cooperation among various components of the maritime and logistics system.
This contributes to developing practical solutions to enhance the resilience and readiness of maritime networks, while supporting the continuity of supply chains and the flow of global trade amid rapid developments.
The opening of the forum was held under the auspices of Eng. Said Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
The forum features the participation of a number of leaders and experts, organized by Asyad Group in partnership with the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and Oman Investment Authority, within the framework of efforts aimed at consolidating the Sultanate of Oman's position as a hub for international dialogue on the future of global trade and the resilience of maritime networks.
Eng. Khamis Mohammed Al Shammakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Transport, explained that the forum serves to enhance the Sultanate of Oman's role in the fields of maritime transport and maritime services, noting that the forum brings together a group of decision-makers and stakeholders in maritime transport, confirming the importance of the Sultanate of Oman's role as a country overlooking major maritime trade corridors and highlighting its attractiveness for such conferences.
For his part, Sheikh Humaid Ali Al Maani, Head of the Diplomatic Academy at the Foreign Ministry, affirmed that the forum represents a qualitative shift for Omani diplomacy to act as a catalyst for international trade, cooperation, and building partnerships that yield benefits for the economy of the Sultanate of Oman and the region.
Al Maani noted that economic diplomacy serves as a catalyst for building private partnerships, given the immense trust in Omani diplomacy, emphasizing the necessity of leveraging current risk management to create opportunities for the Sultanate of Oman and the region, and making Muscat a host for these maritime gatherings, as the Sultanate of Oman is a key strategic partner in the region for maritime trade and supply chains.
From his side, Eng. Abdulrahman Salim Al Hatmi, CEO of Asyad Group, delivered a speech clarifying that maritime networks play a pivotal role in the continuity of global trade, as more than 80 percent of global merchandise trade by volume is transported by sea. He added that the developments witnessed in maritime trade and associated challenges affect transport movement and supply chains, highlighting the importance of proactive readiness through sustainable investment in infrastructure, enhancing operational readiness, strengthening commercial partnerships, and exchanging field knowledge and expertise.
He added that the results of an operational study conducted by Asyad Group revealed a 137 percent change in the total cost of a maritime voyage between India and Sohar, reflecting the scale of variables that may impact maritime trade economics. This underscores the importance of embedding resilience through continuous cooperation among companies, markets, and institutions, as well as integrating efforts to address challenges and support the continuity of trade movement.
He explained that hosting the forum in Muscat allows bringing together leaders of the maritime and logistics sector to exchange expertise and transform visions into practical pathways, drawing upon Asyad Group's integrated expertise in ports, maritime transport, and logistics services, thereby contributing to enhancing the efficiency and interconnectedness of maritime networks and supporting international trade flows.
In turn, Dr. Ibrahim Bakhit Al Nadhairi, CEO of Asyad Shipping, said that the Muscat Maritime Resilience Forum positions the Sultanate of Oman on the global decision-making map in maritime transport. He affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman is a trusted nation in this field that consistently contributes to bringing viewpoints closer together. He added that the participation of numerous experts from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman demonstrates the interest of decision-makers in reaching a common mechanism ensuring the flexible continuity of the maritime transport sector, which positively impacts consumers.
The forum included several working sessions to discuss challenges facing the maritime sector, practical experiences regarding operational and commercial visions, and the identification of practical priorities to enhance the readiness and interconnectedness of maritime networks, as well as supporting the continuity of supply chains and trade across markets.
The discussions contribute to developing the Muscat Maritime Resilience Framework, which Asyad Group seeks to establish as the first integrated global framework based on the expertise of participating leaders and practitioners. This aims to define practical priorities ensuring sector resilience, supply chain continuity, and deeper commercial cooperation, with the dialogue's outcomes expected to contribute to formulating a common reference responsive to operational and commercial developments in global maritime trade.
Hosting the forum comes as an extension of the Sultanate of Oman's approach to deploying its economic diplomacy and international relations built on trust, dialogue, and cooperation. This sovereign approach integrates with its strategic location overlooking maritime trade routes, along with its ports, infrastructure, and integrated logistics services connecting regional and international markets, ensuring a supportive environment for maritime leaders to meet and explore new pathways that enhance trade connectivity and maritime resilience.
